CNN dismisses editor over Tweet

Washington – CNN has reportedly fired a veteran editor over a recently published Twitter message. As reported by Reuters, Octavia Nasr, a senior editor for Middle East news, was fired for paying respect to a Lebanese Shi’ite cleric who passed away on Sunday.

Nasr, a 20-year CNN veteran, is quoted in the report as stating of The Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, who the United States has labeled a terrorist, in a Twitter post, “Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah … One of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot.”

Nasr is further quoted by Reuters as stating in a blog post of her firing, “Reaction to my tweet was immediate, overwhelming and provides a good lesson on why 140 characters should not be used to comment on controversial or sensitive issues, especially those dealing with the Middle East.”